Milford 7, Hopkinton 0: Power pitcher

Shannon Smith had a chance at her seventh no-hitter this season going into the final inning yesterday against Hopkinton. She didn’t get it when Nicole Mellor singled to left field leading off the seventh, but Smith wasn’t too worried about that. “I wasn’t that mad,” Smith said after the Scarle...

By Kevin J. Stone/Daily News correspondent

Milford Daily News

By Kevin J. Stone/Daily News correspondent

Posted May. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2012 at 2:04 PM

By Kevin J. Stone/Daily News correspondent

Posted May. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 14, 2012 at 2:04 PM

MILFORD

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Shannon Smith had a chance at her seventh no-hitter this season going into the final inning yesterday against Hopkinton.

She didn’t get it when Nicole Mellor singled to left field leading off the seventh, but Smith wasn’t too worried about that.

“I wasn’t that mad,” Smith said after the Scarlet Hawks’ 7-0 win in the championship game of the Milford Softball Tournament. “It was actually a really low pitch, so I was like, ‘Wow, props to you for hitting that pitch.’ As long as she didn’t score, that’s all that mattered.”

Smith took home the tournament MVP for the third year in a row after going the distance for Milford and striking out 15 Hillers.

Milford is now 15-0 with roughly two weeks to play in the season, while Hopkinton is 11-3 and will play a big Tri-Valley League game today against Bellingham.

The Milford offense was led by Smith, who belted a two-run homer — her fourth home run in three games — in the sixth inning to give herself the 7-0 cushion, and also got Milford, which was the visiting team, on the board in the top of the first inning with an RBI double.

Caroline Fairbanks continued to stay hot as she ripped an RBI double in the third inning to put her team ahead 2-0 and scored Milford’s third run of the game in the same inning on an Elizabeth Stallone single up the middle. Stallone had a big day at the plate, driving a two-run single down the left-field line in the fifth inning to put Milford up 5-0, and also singled to left in the seventh inning.

“I just felt really calm at the plate all day and I was able to put a few good swings together today,” said Stallone.

Smith started off guns blazing, striking out 10 of the first 12 batters she faced. Hopkinton didn’t get a runner to first base until Emily Jarvis drew a two-out walk in the fourth inning.

“Today was a very good game with two really good teams going at it,” said a disappointed but optimistic Hopkinton coach Jeff Kearney.

“Milford is obviously an extremely strong team and I feel like we’re a really good team too,” Kearney added. “We battled today against an excellent pitcher and didn’t give her any easy at-bats. I think both teams are going to have a lot to say when the postseason rolls around.”

As for Smith, she continues to dominate the opposition, while the team behind her continues to play crisp defense, something both she and coach Brian Macchi appreciate heading into the final stretch of the season.

“I was really happy to see us come out with more intensity and not flat like we did yesterday,” said Smith.

Page 2 of 2 - Macchi isn’t worried that the Scarlet Hawks will start looking ahead to an undefeated season.

“We still have goals to achieve this season, first and foremost a league title, and we also can clinch the number one overall seed in Central Mass., so I don’t think these girls will look ahead too much or anything like that,” Macchi said.

“We have a bigger goal in mind this year, so we won’t take anything for granted before we get there.”

In the consolation game, Westborough scored four runs in the sixth inning to beat Hopedale, 4-3, after trailing 2-0 for much of the game.

An RBI single from Hailey Collentro was the game-winning hit for the Rangers, who are now 5-9. Hopedale fell to 6-9.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my team,” said Westborough coach Greg Rota. “The girls fought all day and then came up with that huge rally. That’s a big win for us.”